WBB Hosts No. 21 Minnesota Sunday
Jan 23 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 23, 2015 
TIP OFF
Since her return at Indiana on Dec. 28 to open up conference play, has posted double-doubles in four of her last seven games - Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin - and narrowly missed out on the feat by a one point against No. 20 Iowa on Jan. 4 and one rebound at Penn State on Jan 10.
In her seven games back, all in Big Ten play, the senior Scarlet Knight has averaged 16.3 points and 10.1 boards per game. She has scored 20 or more points in three of the seven games as well.
400-WIN CLUB
GETTING TO THE POINTS
All-Time RU Steals
PROTECTING HOME COURT
The squad's 15 home wins in 2013-14 season tied for the most wins at the RAC under the 20-year tenure of C. Vivian Stringer. The Scarlet Knights also went 15-3 at home in the 1998-99 season.
All three losses this season have come at the hand of top 25 squads. A 81-68 win over Michigan on Jan. 7 snapped the three-game slide at home. RU has not suffered more than three-straight losses at home since the 2001-02 season.
Only Arkansas on Dec. 7, has managed to record single digit turnovers.
OPPONENT TURNOVERS
R TURNOVERS
The senior guard handed out the ball eight times with no turnovers in RU's 71-51 victory at Penn State on Jan. 10
Davis has committed two turnovers or less in 15 of her 18 games this season.
All-Time RU Assists
Laney's 24 boards against the Tar Heels is also among the best rebounding performances from around the country this season.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersWBB ), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersWBB ) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersWBB ) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
| Game Nineteen: #25/23 Rutgers vs. #21/RV Minnesota | |
| Date | Sunday, January 25, 2015 |
| Time | 5:15 ET |
| Location | Piscataway, N.J.| The RAC |
| Tickets | Click To Purchase |
| TV | BTN Ed Cohen and Vera Jones |
| Radio | Rutgers IMG Radio Network - WCTC (1450 AM) Danny Breslauer and Mark Peterson Rutgers Student Radio - WRSU (88.7 FM) Andrew Fafalios and Matt Salvatore |
| Game Notes | Rutgers | Minnesota |
| Statistics | Rutgers | Minnesota |
| Social Media | @RutgersWBB  | Facebook/RutgersWBB  |
| Promotions | Junior Knights Dance Team Ariel Butts Trading Card |
TIP OFF
? The 2014 WNIT Champions returned to the win column last Sunday in a 73-63 victory at Wisconsin. The Scarlet Knights had five in double figures for the first time since it's 100-44 win over Davidson on Nov. 30.
? Junior Cythina Hernandez had a game- and career-high 17 points going a blistering 5-of-5 from three-point range. It was the most three-pointers by a Scarlet Knight since 2011.
? Junior Kahleah Copper added in 14 points, which included her 1,000th career point. She became the 35th Scarlet Knight to reach the 1,000 point career mark. She was the second Scarlet Knight this season to accomplish the feat joining Betnijah Laney, who netted her 1,000 point against No. 6 UNC in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge back on Dec. 4.
? Senior Betnijah Laney put away her 12th double-double of the season with 12 points and a game-high 11 points.
? Also scoring in double digits against the Badgers were Rachel Hollivay with 11 points from off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting and Tyler Scaife with 10.
? The Golden Gophers mark the sixth game against a Top 25 opponent this season.
ABOUT MINNESOTA
The Golden Gophers come to the RAC witha 16-3 overall mark and 5-2 Big Ten record, most recently suffering a 90-88 overtime setback to Purdue on Thursday night.
While Minnesota lost the services of Preseason Big Ten Player of the Year and leading scorer Rachel Banham 10 games into the season with a torn ACL, the Gophers still have three others pouring in double figure scoring.
Shae Kelley, a senior transfer from Old Dominion, is leading the way at 16.8 points per game along with 9.1 rebounds per game. Amanda Zahui meanwhile is adding in 16.6 points per contest along with 11.2 rebounds be game, placing her name right behind RU's Betnijah Laney in the rebounding stat leaders. Carlie Wagner is contributing 10.3 points per outing.
Leading the Badgers is Michala Johnson at 12.8 points per game along with a team-second best 6.3 rebounds per game. Next on the stat sheet is Nicole Bauman at 12.4 points per game. On the boards, Wisconsin is led by Cassie Rochel at 7.1 rebounds per contest.
CANTY'S COMEBACK
Redshirt junior guard Briyona Canty made her first appearance in four games against Maryalnd on Jan. 15 after suffering a bone bruise in her right knee in RU's Dec. 28 game at Indiana.
Canty returned to the court against Maryland last Thursday night and finished with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting and five rebounds from off the bench in 19 minutes of action. She followed up that performance with six points, five assists and two steals at Wisconsin on Jan. 18.
Since returning, Canty has averaged 7.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
BETNIJAH IS BETTER
Senior forward Betnijah Laney sat out the final nonconference contest at Iona on Dec. 20 after suffering a sprained thumb on her left hand in RU's contest with Tennessee on Dec. 14. Laney suffered a bad sprain on the first play of the game.
Entering the game with the Lady Vols, Laney had been averaging 16.0 points and 14.8 rebounds, however after suffering the thumb injury moments into Tennessee game, Laney went on to end the contest with four points and five rebounds.
Since her return at Indiana on Dec. 28 to open up conference play, has posted double-doubles in four of her last seven games - Indiana, Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin - and narrowly missed out on the feat by a one point against No. 20 Iowa on Jan. 4 and one rebound at Penn State on Jan 10.
In her seven games back, all in Big Ten play, the senior Scarlet Knight has averaged 16.3 points and 10.1 boards per game. She has scored 20 or more points in three of the seven games as well.
WELCOME BACK TO THE B1G TIME
Rutgers head coach C. Vivian Stringer is no stranger to the league. Stringer was at the helm of the Iowa Hawkeye program from 1983-95 and holds the second-most Big Ten victories in conference history with 173 wins in league play. She won 169 games while at Iowa and four at Rutgers.
Penn State's Rene Portland holds the record with 176 wins from 1980-2007.
400-WIN CLUB
Head coach C. Vivian Stringer won her 400th career victory "On The Banks" at Houston on Feb. 11, 2014. Stringer needs 12 more wins to surpass Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Theresa Grentz as RU's all-time winningest women's basketball coach.
All-Time Rutgers WBB Coaching Records (By Wins)
Theresa Grentz - 434-150/ (1977-95) 19 seasons
C. Vivian Stringer - 422-210/(1995-present) 20 seasons
Ellen Johns - 6-5/(1974-75) One season
Dottie McCrea - 5-9/(1975-76) One season
GETTING TO THE POINTS
Rutgers is enjoying its highest scoring average under C. Vivian Stringer's 20-year tenure "On the Banks"
Top RU Scoring Averages Under C. Vivian Stringer
1. 72.3 (18 games) 2014-15 - 13-5 - Current Season
2. 70.0 (35 games) 1998-99 - 29-6 - Elite Eight
3. 68.7 (32 games) 1997-98 - 22-10 - Sweet 16
4. 67.3 (29 games) 2002-03 - 21-8 - 2nd Round
5. 66.2 (37 games) 2013-14 - WNIT CHAMPIONS
6. 65. 6 (31 games) 2000-01 - 23-8 - 2nd Round
Four or more Scarlet Knights have reached double figures in a game in nine of RU's 18 contests to date.
RU had back-to-back games against the top 25 with a double overtime, 96-93, loss to No. 6 UNC on Dec. 4 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and a 64-52 victory at then-No. 25 Arkansas on Dec. 10. Prior to the Dec. 10th win over the Razorbacks, the Scarlet Knights' last win over a nationally ranked opponent was a 61-58 victory over No. 16/15 Georgia on Dec. 21, 2013 at the RAC.
As a team, the Scarlet Knights hit a season-high six three-point shots at Iona on Dec. 20, the most since hitting seven shots from downtown against Louisville on Jan. 18, 2013.
RU went 6-of-11 from three-point range against the Gaels with Syessence Davis and Cynthia Hernandez both connecting on a pair from long range.
Hernandez followed up that performance going 3-of-4 from three-point range in RU's 66-51 win at Indiana on Dec. 28, which included her draining back-to-back-to-back shots from beyond the arc.
Briyona Canty had the most three-point field goals made by a Scarlet Knight last season, connecting on 13 from beyond the arc over the course of the Scarlet Knights' 37 games. This season, thru 18 games played in 2014-15, Hernandez has 18 made three pointers.
Hollivay is coming off her best shooting performance of the season going 5-of-6 from the field and adding in 11 points in RU's 73-63 win over Wisconsin last Sunday.
During this span, Hollivay also had a season-tying 14 points against No. 8 Maryland along with a season-high six blocks.
BETTING DOUBLE
The senior forward had an incredible game against #6 UNC on Dec. 4 with a career-tying 24 points and career-high 24 rebounds.
1,000 POINT CLUB
Junior Kahleah Copper ended the Jan. 18 Wisconsin game with 14 points and became the 35th Scarlet Knight to reach 1,000 career points. She knocked down the first of two free throws at the 8:07 mark to accomplish the feat. She is the second Scarlet Knight to reach the 1,000 career point mark this season. Teammate Betnijah Laney reached the mark in RU's game with UNC on Dec. 4.
TOP 25 OPPONENTS
Rutgers currently stands a 1-4 against the top 25.
RU had back-to-back games against the top 25 with a double overtime, 96-93, loss to No. 6 UNC on Dec. 4 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and a 64-52 victory at then-No. 25 Arkansas on Dec. 10. Prior to the Dec. 10th win over the Razorbacks, the Scarlet Knights' last win over a nationally ranked opponent was a 61-58 victory over No. 16/15 Georgia on Dec. 21, 2013 at the RAC.
DOWNTOWN
Cynthia Hernandez finished with a season-high 17 points at Wisconsin on Jan. 18, surpassing her previous high of nine captured against Davidson (Nov. 30) and Indiana (Dec. 28). She shot a blistering 5-of-5 from downtown.
Hernandez's five made three-pointers were the most by a Scarlet Knight since Erica Wheeler drained five three-pointers against Connecticut on March 7, 2011. Her five three's tied a Kohl Center record originally set by Lori Bjork of Illinois on Jan. 15, 2006.
As a team, the Scarlet Knights hit a season-high six three-point shots at Iona on Dec. 20, the most since hitting seven shots from downtown against Louisville on Jan. 18, 2013.
RU went 6-of-11 from three-point range against the Gaels with Syessence Davis and Cynthia Hernandez both connecting on a pair from long range.
Hernandez followed up that performance going 3-of-4 from three-point range in RU's 66-51 win at Indiana on Dec. 28, which included her draining back-to-back-to-back shots from beyond the arc.
Briyona Canty had the most three-point field goals made by a Scarlet Knight last season, connecting on 13 from beyond the arc over the course of the Scarlet Knights' 37 games. This season, thru 18 games played in 2014-15, Hernandez has 18 made three pointers.
BENCH PRODUCTION
Since coming off the bench starting with RU's game against Michigan on Jan. 7, Rachel Hollivay has been averaging 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. She has scored in double figure in three of her four games during that span.
Hollivay is coming off her best shooting performance of the season going 5-of-6 from the field and adding in 11 points in RU's 73-63 win over Wisconsin last Sunday.
During this span, Hollivay also had a season-tying 14 points against No. 8 Maryland along with a season-high six blocks.
BETTING DOUBLE
Senior forward Betnijah Laney has 12 double-double performances this season and tied for fifth nationally in the category.
She opened the season with eight consecutive double figure scoring and rebounding games. Her streak was halted at Temple on Dec. 10 with 20 points and five rebounds.
Laney's 2014-15 Double-Doubles
St. Joseph's - 10 pts, 13 reb
Northeastern - 14 pts, 13 reb
at LSU - 10 pts, 16 reb
at Wagner - 22 pts, 11 reb
Colgate - 17 pts, 18 reb
Davidson - 19 pts, 12 reb
#6 UNC - 24 pts, 24 reb
at #25 Arkansas - 12 pts, 11 reb
at Indiana - 20 pts, 12 reb
at Ohio State - 23 pts, 12 reb
Michigan - 20 pts, 10 reb
at Wisconsin - 12 pts, 11 reb
at Wisconsin - 12 pts, 11 reb
Laney has 26 double-doubles in her career.
The senior forward had an incredible game against #6 UNC on Dec. 4 with a career-tying 24 points and career-high 24 rebounds.
The Clayton, Delaware native captured 15 double-doubles last season, the most double figure scoring and rebounding games since Kia Vaughn, currently with the WNBA's Washington Mystics, had 12 double-doubles during the 2006-07 season.
THEIVING KNIGHTS
Syessence Davis had just one point off a free throw at Penn State on Jan. 10, but contributed a school record tying 10 steals along with eight assists and no turnovers. Davis' 10 steals ties the school record along with Denise Kenney, who also had 10 thefts against St. Joseph's on Feb. 16, 1978. Davis also surpassed her previous high of eight captured against Davidson on Nov. 30.
As a team, Rutgers recorded 22 steals against Penn State, one theft shy of the Rutgers single game record. The Scarlet Knights set the record with 23 steals against Temple on Jan. 17, 1987.
Davis is averaging 3.5 steals per game ranking her second in the Big Ten and fifth nationally. Last season, she averaged 2.9 steals, led the American and was ninth nationally in the category.
All-Time RU Steals
1. Tasha Pointer (1997-01) - *292
T-2. Sue Wicks (1984-88) - 287
T-2. Liz Hanson (1992-96) - 287
4. Matee Ajavon (2004-08) - 275
5. Denise Kenney (1976-79) - 263
6. Epiphanny Prince (2006-09) - 260
7. Vicky Picott (1987-91) - 257
8. Syessence Davis - 249
9. Regina Howard (1983-87) - 216
T-10. C'ta Mitchelson (1989-93) - 213
T-10. Cappie Pondexter (2002-06) - 213
PROTECTING HOME COURT
The Scarlet Knights have had an outstanding track record of success at home during the previous 12 seasons under head coach C. Vivian Stringer. RU is currently 5-4 at home and went 15-3 in 2013-14. Since the 2002-03 season, the Scarlet Knights have gone 154-24 at the RAC.
The squad's 15 home wins in 2013-14 season tied for the most wins at the RAC under the 20-year tenure of C. Vivian Stringer. The Scarlet Knights also went 15-3 at home in the 1998-99 season.
All three losses this season have come at the hand of top 25 squads. A 81-68 win over Michigan on Jan. 7 snapped the three-game slide at home. RU has not suffered more than three-straight losses at home since the 2001-02 season.
TURNOVERS
Scarlet Knight opponents are averaging 16.2 miscues per game, which included 38 turnovers by Penn State on Jan. 10.
PSU's mishandling of the ball 38 times marked the most turnovers by an opponent since Farmingdale State registered 32 miscues on Feb. 11, 2009. It was the third time since 2002-03 that an opponent has had 30 or more turnovers in a game. The Lady Lions' 38 turnovers resulted in season-high 36 points for the Scarlet Knights.
Only Arkansas on Dec. 7, has managed to record single digit turnovers.
OPPONENT TURNOVERS
St. Joseph's - 21
Northeastern - 22
at LSU - 21
at Wagner - 25
Colgate - 18
Davidson - 29
UNC - 21
at Arkansas - 9
at Temple - 21
Tennessee - 13
at Iona - 21
at Indiana - 21
at Ohio State - 15
Iowa - 17
Michigan - 21
at Penn State - 38
Maryland - 14
at Wisconsin - 16
Maryland - 14
at Wisconsin - 16
R TURNOVERS
The Scarlet Knights committed a season-low nine turnovers, which included only one miscue in the first half, on Sunday at Wisconsin. RU's previous low this season was 11 in the season opener with St. Joseph's. Last time Rutgers had less than 10 turnovers was against Harvard on Mar. 24, 2014 in the WNIT when the Scarlet Knights had only eight miscues.
NO MESSY ESSY
Syessence Davis leads the Big Ten and ranks 6th nationally in assist/turnover ratio. She has dished the ball out a total of 75 times with only 25 miscues through 17 games.
The senior guard handed out the ball eight times with no turnovers in RU's 71-51 victory at Penn State on Jan. 10
Davis has committed two turnovers or less in 15 of her 18 games this season.
All-Time RU Assists
1. Tasha Pointer (1997-01) - *839
2. Janet Malouf (1985-89) - 718
3. Mary Coyle (1978-82) - 640
4. Matee Ajavon (2004--08) - 556
5. Liz Hanson (1992-96) - 474
6. Cappie Pondexter (2002-06) - 470
7. Khadijah Rushdan (2007-12) - 464
8. Kristen Foley (1982-87) - 455
9. Patty Coyle (1978-82) - 394
10. Telicher Austin (1985-89) - 371
-- Syessence Davis - 348
ALL ABOARD
Betnijah Laney's 24 rebounds vs. #6 UNC on Dec. 4 set a Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) record - men or women. She surpassed the previous record of 21 held by Women's Basketball Hall of Famer and former WNBA All-Star Sue Wicks set back in 1987 against Penn State.
She was two rebounds shy of tying the Rutgers women's basketball single game record. Sandy Tupurins grabbed 26 rebounds against William Paterson on Mar. 1, 1977.
Her 24 rebounds also placed her name among the top 15 all-time at RU in rebounding.
Laney's 24 boards against the Tar Heels is also among the best rebounding performances from around the country this season.
Top `14-15 Single Game WBB Rebounding Performances
Vicky McIntyre, Oral Roberts - vs. Austin Peay - 27
Joy Adams, Iona - vs. Monmouth - 26
Sherae Bonner, Western Carolina - vs. Livingstone - 26
Brittni Montgomery, UCF - vs. Iona - 24
Betnijah Laney, Rutgers - vs. North Carolina - 24
Temi Fagbenle, Harvard - vs. Temple - 24
Brittany Hodges, Furman - vs. Davidson - 24
Sarah Imovbioh, Virginia - vs. Ohio State - 24
Top RU Rebounding Performances (since 2005)
Betnijah Laney - 24 - North Carolina (12/4/14)
Kia Vaughn - 21 - at Cincinnati (1/22/08)
Monique Oliver - 19 - at Miami (12/5/11)
Betnijah Laney - 18 - Colgate (11/28/14)
Monique Oliver - 17 - Georgetown (12/9/10)
Kia Vaughn - 17 - Georgetown (2/7/09)
ALL-TIME RU REBOUNDS
1. Sue Wicks (1984-88) - *1357
2. Kia Vaughn (2005-09) - 1079
3. Regina Howard (1983-87) - 1036
4. Vicky Picott (1987-91) - 1029
5. Sandy Tupurins (1976-80) - 944
6. Tanya Hansen (1988-92) - 894
7. Kathy Glutz (1976-80) - 835
8. June Olkowski (1978-82) - 780
9. Betnijah Laney (2011-present) - 769
10. C'ta Mitchelson (1989-93) - 764
BLOCK PARTY
Rachel Hollivay captured a season-high six rejections in RU's game with No. 8 Maryland on Jan. 15. She also swatted away five Hawk shots in RU's season opener and then again in the Scarlet Knights' first road game at LSU.
Hollivay has registered 31 games with three or more blocks.
She currently has 194 career blocks, moving into fifth all-time at RU on the New Year's Day contest with Ohio State.
Hollivay ended last year with 127 rejections and is third (men or women) in blocks in a single season. Only Hamady Ndiaye (2009-10) and Roy Hinson (1982-83) on the men's side have blocked more shots in a single season, swatting away 145 and 144, respectively.
All-Time RU Blocked Shots
1. Sue Wicks (1984-88) - 293
2. Kia Vaughn (2005-09) - 279
3. LaTonya Johnson (1988-92) - 248
4. Tanya Hansen (1988-92) - 245
5. Rachel Hollivay (2012-present) - 194
6. Monique Oliver (2009-13) - 177
7. Tammy Sutton-Brown (1997-01) - 148
8. Rashidat Junaid (2006-10) - 136
9. Regina Kalucki (1991-95) - 128
10. Chelsey Lee (2008-13) - 109
UP NEXT
The Rutgers women's basketball team travels to Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 29. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET) on BTN.
The Rutgers women's basketball team travels to Purdue on Thursday, Jan. 29. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET) on BTN.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersWBB ), Twitter (www.twitter.com/RutgersWBB ) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/RutgersWBB ) for all of the latest news and updates. Fans also receive timely information, including special offers and giveaways throughout the year on both social media outlets along with www.ScarletKnights.com.
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